About 40 percent of Republicans say they are evangelical or born-again Christians, Martin says. We don’t hear phrases like “religious right” anymore, Martin says, “part of that reason is because the religious right has simply become a major part of the Republican Party.”

In general, he says religious groups have powerful resources because they meet regularly and hear a consistent message.

“Evangelicals are accustomed to calling on people and saying ‘This is what you need to believe,'” Martin says.

The Talk of Texas

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